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Is Air Asia Really Cheaper Than Malaysia Airlines?

I recently had the chance to travel on Air Asia to Bali for my honeymoon. It has been quite sometime since I last travel on an airplane in Malaysia. With its strong branding for cheap flights, my first instinct quickly pointed to Airasia.com for flight ticket purchase, thinking that I will be getting the best deal since I didn’t really have much time to shop around. I guess you would be the same too if you were in my position. You tend to grab whatever familiar and you are comfortable with in first instance.

In retrospect, I guess it’s better for me to also take a peek at what’s on offer by MALAYSIA AIRLINES and possibly JETSTAR and TIGER AIRWAYS that have started flying from KUALA LUMPUR. For some of you who are not sure what Jetstar and Tiger Airways are, well let me give a little rundown of these two airlines:

Jetstar

Jetstar Airways is a low-cost airline based in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue. Currently Jetstar is flying out of KLIA to various destinations mostly in Australia such as BRISBANE, GOLD COAST, SYDNEY, MELBOURNE as well as SINGAPORE.

Tiger Airways

Tiger Airways Private Limited is a low-cost airline based in Singapore, with its primary hub at Singapore Changi Airport. It’s owned by Singapore Airlines (SIA). Currently Tiger Airways is flying out of Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. (sidenote: Wonder why it chooses tiger as the name, Singapore has always been associated with MERLION, the lion. Tiger is more MALAYSIAN, hmmh).

Back to our original story. Let me present a comparative case study between Air Asia and Malaysia Airlines for travel to BALI, Indonesia in December.

FLIGHT TICKETS

AIRASIA: LCCT, Kuala Lumpur to Denpasar, Bali (return) - 2/12/08 (flyout) and 5/12/08 (flyback). Cost: RM490 (including airport tax, surcharges, one checked bag (RM3), one hot nasi lemak (RM7))

MALAYSIA AIRLINES: KLIA to Denpasar, Bali (return) - 2/12/08 (flyout) and 5/12/08 (flyback). Cost: RM745 (including airport tax, surcharges, bag allowance, meal on board, fixed seat). No mileage accumulation.

Both offer no compensation/refund for cancellation or allow change of dates.

CONCLUSION: I guess it’s better off to fly with Airasia still.

COMPETITION HEAT - ADVERTISEMENTS FROM TWO OF MALAYSIA’S BIGGEST AIRLINE COMPANIES….

MALAYSIA AIRLINE SAYS THEY’VE GOT MORE

AIRASIA SAYS YOU DON’T NEED ALL THAT! BLINK BLINK!